Combined cotton and corn planter.



No. 653,660. Patented July l7, I900.

E. M. COLE.

COMBINED COTTON AND CORN PLANTER.

. (Application filed Feb. 14, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 653,660. I Patented luly l7, I900. E. M. COLE.

COMBINED COTTON AND CORN PLANTEB.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1900.]

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 653,660. Patented Iuly 17,- I900.

E. in. coma. COMBINED COTTON AND CORN PLANTER.

(Application filed Feb. 14, 1900.) I (No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED ST Tas I {PAT NT f OrFIicE.

EUGENE MASON COLE, OF OARTHAGE, NORTH CAROLINA;

COMB lNEp COTTON AND CORN PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 653,660, dated July 17,1900.

Application filed February 14, 1900. Serial No. 5,165. (N0 odel-J NorthCarolina, have invented'a new and use-,

ful Combined Cotton and Corn Planter, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is a combined cotton and corn or pea planter, one objectbeing to provide a light, strong, cheap, simp1e, compact, andthoroughly-efficient planter which is adapted to be used both forplanting cotton and corn or peas.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofseedbox or hopper provided with a seed-bowl forming the bottom of thehopper or seedbox and in which cotton-seed cannot become lodged.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved furrow-openeradapted to make a furrow of even depth in which the seeds are sowed andmeans for adjusting said furrow-opener for operation at any desireddepth. r

A further object of my invention is to provide, in combination with afurrow-opener, improved scraping devices for removing excess earth fromthe furrow, leveling the same on both sides of the furrow, so as toprevent the seeds from being planted too deeply and to prepare smoothtracks for the tractionwheels of the planter.

A further object of my invention is to combine with the seed-bowl platesof novel construction to form means for the attachment of a draft-beamand of the furrow-opener, scrapers, and eoverer.

A further object of my invention is to provide anovel corn or peaplanting mechanism which is adapted for adjustment, so as to regulatethe number of seed planted in a hill.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofdevices hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims. r

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a,combined cotton and corn planter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticaltransthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

nal horizontal sectional view of the same, taken on the line at '1 ofFig. 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of the plates forconnecting the seed-bowl to the beam and forming means for theattachment of thefurrow-opener and coverer. Fig. 7 is a detailperspective view of the furrow-opener. Fig. 8 is adetail top plan viewof the corn-planting mechanism. Fig. 9..is a vertical longitudinalsectional view of the same, taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isa vertical transverse sectional view of the same, taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a top'plan view of the rotatory seed-plate,showing the slides therein, the adj listing-plate being removed. Fig. 12is an inverted plan view of the adjusting-plate.

The seedbox or hopper 1 is preferably el liptical in form incross-section, is made, preferably, of sheet metal, and the bottomthereof is formed by a seed-bowl 2, which is preferably made of castmetal and is of suitable size. The said seed-bowl is secured to theelliptical portion of the seedbox or hopper by bolts, as at 3, and isprovided in opposite sides with openings 4., which coincide with theopenings in journal boxes 5, that are bolted to the outer sides of'thebowl, as at 6.

. Said j ournal-boxesare also preferably formed its ends traction-wheels8, of suitable size,

which are keyed thereto, and on the center of the said shaft is secureda vertically-disposed seed wheel or disk 9, the lower edge of whichoperates in the bottom of the seedbowl. The said seed-bowl is providedin its lower side with an opening 10, of suitable length and'throughwhich the cotton-seeds may be ejected by the seed disk or plate 9. Thelatter is provided with peripheral serrations or teeth 11 and is furtherprovided with the series of spursor stirrers 12, which proj ect fromopposite sides thereof. By this construction of the seedbox or hopperand the seed-wheel the cottonseeds are effectually prevented frombecoming lodged or choked therein, the spurs and serrations of the seed-Wheel serving when the planter is in operation to keep the cotton-seedswhich are con- ICO tiguous to the seed-wheel thoroughly agitated andstirred,so that they cannot become packed together by the lint on thecotton-seeds, and the seed-bowl by reason of its inclined sides servingto move the cotton-seeds to the seedwheel as long as any remain in thebowl, and hence the operation of the seed-wheel is continuous,thecotton-seeds are continuallyejected thereby from the bowl, and thecotton-rows are completely planted, none of the stands being missed. Theseed-bowl is provided on its lower side with a cut-off plate 13, securedthereon by a bolt 14 and adapted to regulate the size of the opening andto entirely cover the said opening when it is not desired that theplanter shall operate.

A pair of plates 15, which are made of cast metal, are provided at theirrear ends with curved extensions 16, which are adapted to the contour ofthe front side of the seedbowl and are secured thereto by bolts 17. Thesaid plates 15 are of the form in side elevation shown in Fig. 2 and areadapted at their upper front corners for the attachment of a draft-beam18, of usual construction, as at 19, the rear end of the draft-beambeing secured. between the proximate corners of said plates bya bolt 20,which passes through said plates, through said beam, and through theheels of the handles 21, which handles are of the usual construction.Said plates at their front upper corners are provided with lateraloffsets or lips 22, which bear upon the upper sides of the handle-bars.Said plates 15 are further provided at their front sides, near theirlower edges, with obliquely-disposed projecting bearing faces 23, abovewhich are overhanging flanges 24, and on the inner sides of said plates15 the same are provided with rack or notch bars 25, cast integrallytherewith. Coverer-arms 26 have their front ends bolted to the outersides of the plates 15, as at 27. Said coverer-arms are bowed outwardand adapted to the contour of the sides of the seed-bowl, and the rearends of the said coverer-arms converge and are bolted to a coverer-plate28. Strapbars 29 have their lower ends bolted to the rear portion of theseed-bowl, on opposite sides thereof, and their upper ends bolted to thehandle-bars, as at 30. Said strap-bars are provided with a series ofbolt-holes at their upper ends, by means of which the handle-bars may beadjusted and secured at any desired angle.

It will be understood from the foregoing and by reference to thedrawings that the seed-bowl, together with the plates 15, constitutesthe entire framework of the planter and that the planter is exceedinglycompact and of simple construction.

A furrow-opener 31, disposed between the proximate sides of the plates15, is provided with a standard 32 on its upper side, which is racked ornotched on opposite sides thereof, and thereby adapted to engage theracks or notches in the plates 15, and hence secure said furrow-openerbetween said plates at any desired vertical adjustment. Said f urrow-opener is provided near its front edge with an adjusting-slot 33for the reception of a bolt 34, employed to secure the front ends of apair of scraper-wings 35 to opposite sides of the f urrow-opener. Saidscraper-win gs are obliquely disposed, project from opposite sides ofthe furrow-opener, bear upon the bearingfaces 23 of the plates 15, areengaged at their upper sides by the flanges 24 of said plates 15, andare further secured in place by a bolt 36, which extends throughregistering openings in said scraper-wings and said plates 15. It willbe observed by reference to Figs. 1 and 4 that the rear ends of thescraper-wings project laterally a slight distance beyond and in advanceof the traction-wheels 8 and that hence said scraper-wings level thefurrow in advance of said traction-wheels,thereby causing the planter torun smoothly and evenly. It will be further observed by reference toFigs. 1 and 2 that the lower edges of said scraper-wings are at somedistance above the lower edge of the furrow-opener, and hence it will beunderstood that said scraper-wings as the machine advances serve inleveling the furrow to remove excess earth therefrom and prevent theseeds from being covered too deeply by the coverer 28. The furrow-openeris provided with an opening 37, by means of which a suitable colter (notshown) maybe attached thereto when the ground is hard.

The fu rrow-opener being disposed centrally and in the line of draft andthe tractionwheels being both keyed or otherwise firmly secured to theshaft 7 the planter tends to run in a straight line and may be easilykept on top of a cotton-ridge.

When it is desired to use my improved planter for planting corn or peas,the seed wheel or disk 9 is removed and an improved form ofseed-dropping mechanism employed, the construction of which I will nowdescribe.

A plate 38, which in cross-section is of the shape shown in Figs. 9 and10, is adapted to fit in the seedbox or hopper at a slight distanceabove the shaft 7 and is supported therein by having its side flanges 39engaged by flanges or cars 40, formed on the bearingplates 5 and whichproject within the walls or sides of the seedbox or hopper. The sides ofthe plate 38 are inclined, as at 41, as shown, and the said plate isprovided with a central upwardly-projecting cylindrical boss 42, andsaid plate is further provided in its bottom with an annular offsetgroove 43, which is concentric with said boss 42 and has an opening 44on one side thereof above the shaft 7. A bevel gear-wheel 45 is securedto the said shaft 7 and engages an annular series of gear-teeth 46,which are formed on the lower side of and integrally with a revolubleseed-plate 47, which is seated on the bottom of the plate 38, saidgear-teeth 46 being disposed and adapted to travel in the ofiset groove43. Said seedplate 47 has its bearing on the boss 42 and is providedwith a series of radially-disposed openings 48, having horizontalgrooves 49 in their opposing sides engaged by similarlygrooved plates50, which are disposed in the openings 48, and the outer ends of saidopenings beyond the ends of said plates 50 form seed-cups whichsuccessively register with an opening 51 near the rear side of the plate38 as said seed-plate 47 rotates. By adjusting said plates 50 in andoutin the openings 48 the sizes of the seed-cups may be varied, andhence said seed-cups may be adapted to hold any desired predeterminednumber of grains of corn or of peas, and hence the number thereofplanted in each hill may be controlled at will. In order to provide forsuch adjustment of the plates 50, I employ a circular adjustingplate 52,which lies upon the upper side of the seed-plate, covers the innerportions of the plates 50 and openings 48, has its bearing on the boss42, and is provided on its under side with a spiral groove 53, adaptedto receive pins 54, one of which projects from the upper side of each ofthe plates 50, near the inner ends thereof. The said adjusting-plate 52is further provided with radially-disposed series of openings 55, whichare adapted to receive said pins 54 and to secure the plates 50 at anydesired adjustment. Said openings 55 coincide with the spiral of thegroove 53 and receive the pins 54 when the plate 52 is seated on theseed-plate 47. A bolt 56 passes through the center of the plate 38, andon the said bolt, near the upper end thereof, is a washer 57, which isadapted to be clamped firmly on the upper side of the plate 52 by a nut58. In order to adjust the plates 50, the nut 58 is unscrewed a slightdistance on the bolt, and the adjusting-plate 52 raised a correspondingdistance to clear the pins 54 of the openings 55 with which they havebeen engaged, said pins 54 being thus brought within the spiral groove53, whereupon the plate 52 is turned sufficiently to cause the spiralgroove by engagement with said pins to move the plates 50 to the desiredextent, when the plate 52 is then reseated on the seed-plate 47, thepins 54 being received by appropriate registering openings 55, and thewasher 57 is then tightened on plate 52 by turning the nut 58. Theopening 51 is disposed above the opening 10 in the seed-bowl, so thatthe seeds which fall through said opening 51 pass through said opening10 to the ground, and, if desired, I propose to employ a spout(indicated in dotted lines at 59, Fig. 9) to convey the seeds from saidopening 51 through said opening 10.

A cut-off cap 60 is secured on the plate 38 over the opening 51, saidcap serving to sweep the upper side of the seed-plate 47 as the latterrevolves in the bottom of the hopper, and within the said cut-off cap isa spring-actuated force feed-ejector 61, which as the seedcupssuccessively reach it forces the seeds from said cups downward throughthe opening 51 mechanically, and hence insures the planting of the cornor peas at regular predetermined intervals.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with ahopper having a discharge-opening,arevoluble seed-plate having a seriesof radial openings successively registering with saiddischarge-openings, adjustable plates in said openings and having studsor pins on their upper sides, and a revoluble and vertically-movable adjListing-plate on said seed-plate and adjustable plates, and having acontinuous spiral groovein its lower side to engage the studs or pins onthe adjustable plates, and openings, communicating with said groove, toreceive said studs or pins when the said plate is lowered, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, in a planter, of a hopper, a draft-beam, plates 15connecting the rear end of the draft-beam with the hopper, afurrow-opener secured between said plates, an operating-shaft journaledin the hopper and traction-wheels for rotating said shaft, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination of the seed-bowl, the plates securedthereto, thedraft-beam and furrow-opener secured between the front portion of saidplates, at the upper and lower sides thereof, the latter and theseed-bowl forming the frame of aplanter, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a hopper, the forward-extending plates securedthereto, the beam and furrow-opener secured between said plates, saidfurrow-opener being vertically adjustable, substantially as described.

5. In aplanter, the combination of the plate 15 having bearing-faces 23,the furrow-opener secured between said plates and the scraperwingssecured to said furrow-opener and said plates and bearing against thebearing-faces of the latter, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, the combination of a draftbeam, plates 15 andhandle-bars, said draftbeam, plates and handle-bars being securedtogether, a hopper secured to said plates and having a seed-plantingmechanism and operating-wheels therefor adapted to engage the ground,connections between the hopper and the handle-bars to support the rearside of the hopper, and a furrow-opener secured to said plates 15,substantially as described.

7. In a planter,the combination with a seedbowl, plates 15 securedthereto, a furrowopener secured to said plates and the covererarmsattached to said plates and extended rearward from said seed-bowl,substantially as described.

8. The plates 15 in combination with the furrow-opener adjustablysecured between them and the scraper-wings attached to saidfurrow-opener and bearing on said plates, substantially as described.

9. In a planter ahopper, a planting mechanism therein, operating-wheelson a shaft journaled on the hopper, plates 15 attached IIO to saidhopper, a furrow-opener secured between said plates, scraper-wings inadvance of said operating-wheels and attached to said furrow-opener anda coverer, having its supporting-arms attached to said plates 15, allcombined and adapted to operate, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a seed-bowl, the plates 15 having the rearextension adapted to fit said seed-bowl and to be bolted thereto, saidplates being further provided with bearing-faces 23, a furrow-openeradapted to be secured between said plates and scraperwings attached tosaid furrow-opener and bearing against the bearing-faces, 23,substantially as described.

11. The combination with the plates 15 of the adjustable furrow-openerbetween said plates,said furrow-openerand said plates hav EUGENE MASON00 LE.

Vitnesses:

B. F. GLEGG, W. T. BATTLEYV

